Originally Posted by
3speed
Womans or not, I don't really care. I actually don't even care about riding a straight up single top tube womans bike. But why is it that so many people don't think that a mixte is a womans bike? Look at a mens bike, now look at a womans bike, and then look at a mixte. Just because someone says "Oh, see this womans style bike? I know it's designed exactly like a womans bike, but it's somehow not a womans style bike because I said so." doesn't make it not a womans style bike. That's just silly. It would be more appropriate to just say "Hey, I realized that a womans style bike has some benefits and I prefer it sometimes." If anything I think it's more manly to just ride the womans bike and be confident in the fact that you like it and who cares what others think versus trying to deny the fact that it's a womans bike.
EDIT: Just saw Doohickie's post. Did the French have the same womans bikes with dropped top tube that we did?
Actually the Mixte design we see with the dual sloping tubes which extend to the rear dropouts became really popular in Nazi occupied France. The design created a reinforcement for carrying heavy loads when they needed urban delivery vehicles. After the war, when gas was available again, the design hung around and was marketed as a women's touring model. I think they make great city bikes. The design is strong, light and responsive and I don't end up abusing my only valuable possessions every time I stop in traffic. I rode this Raleigh all last year, and liked it enough to buy a new frame in my size to build up for this year.
Marc